Donald Trump to meet with Florida space officials Monday

Jeff Swensen / Getty Images

ABRIDGE, PA - OCTOBER 10: Republican candidate for President Donald J Trump speaks to supporters at a rally at Ambridge Area Senior High School on October 10, 2016 in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Ambridge, Pennsylvania, named after the American Bridge Company, a steel fabricating plant that employed 60,000 workers is a traditionally Democratic stronghold, but is shifting Republican as a shrinking tax base and lost jobs having devastating economic effects on the former industrial community. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **

ABRIDGE, PA - OCTOBER 10: Republican candidate for President Donald J Trump speaks to supporters at a rally at Ambridge Area Senior High School on October 10, 2016 in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Ambridge, Pennsylvania, named after the American Bridge Company, a steel fabricating plant that employed 60,000 workers is a traditionally Democratic stronghold, but is shifting Republican as a shrinking tax base and lost jobs having devastating economic effects on the former industrial community. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Jeff Swensen / Getty Images)

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has accepted an invitation to tour Kennedy Space Center and other locations on the Space Coast before sitting in on a roundtable of space industry leaders on Monday, Oct. 24.

Trump will follow what has quickly become a regular stop for presidential campaigns, as economic officials and space industry leaders in the region have been reaching out to candidates since 2008.

So far, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has not accepted invitations to tour the region.

Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the economic development commission of Florida’s Space Coast, said she hopes Trump’s visit encourages Clinton to follow suit.

“One of the fundamental drivers of this economy, is the aerospace industry,” Weatherman said in an email. “We are pleased Mr. Trump has accepted our invitation to participate in this industry roundtable.”

Weatherman said the visits are a way to educate the campaigns on the country’s aerospace program.

The EDC has been working with Space Florida to coordinate the visit.

The region has seen space activity grow recently, as companies like SpaceX and United Launch Alliance have created a new space race, this one involving private companies hoping to some day reach Mars.

Dale Ketcham, Space Florida's chief of strategic alliances, said the goal is to lay out a plan to candidates and have them start thinking about how space can help the U.S. economy.

“Efforts to encourage both campaigns have been ongoing for many months,” said Dale Ketcham, Space Florida's chief of strategic alliances. “To further our success, we have been coordinating this year with similar stakeholders in Ohio, Virginia and Colorado.”

Ketcham said the agency has invited presidential candidates to meet with area officials and “expect to continue with presidential campaigns well into the future.”

msantana@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5256; Twitter, @marcosantana

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